CTTU workshop on formulating Tamil medium education policy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 October 2002, 18:43 GMT]The two-day residential workshop for Tamil educationists and teachers began Saturday in Colombo organised by the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU), sponsored by the Education International (EI) and the Friedrch Ebert Stiftung (FES). At the end of the workshop, proposals for the development of Tamil medium education will be submitted to the government to incorporate in its national policy on general education, CTTU officials said.

The National Education Commission has already invited proposals from members of the public, educational institutions and trade unions in this regard.

"The national policy on general education should be formulated in a way that would ensure equality in education to all communities and removing discrimination now being shown in the development of Tamil medium education in the country," said the President of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) Mr. S.Thandayuthapani in his presidential address at the inaugural event held Friday evening.

The residential workshop is now being held at Hector Hobbekaduwa Agricultural Research Institute hall in Colombo. Representatives of the CTTU from all parts of the country are attending. Leading Tamil educationists are participating in the residential workshop as resource personnel to formulate education policy, focusing on the development of Tamil medium education. The workshop will come to a conclusion Sunday evening, CTTU sources said

Mr.Thandayuthapani further said, "Tamil medium students and teachers are discriminated in every sphere of the education such as distribution of educational resources to Tamil schools, preparation of Tamil textbooks, appointment of teachers and higher education facilities. The national policy of general education should be formulated in such a way to remove all these discriminations."

Senior Vice president of the CTTU Mr.T.Panchalingam made the welcome address. Mr.S.Saravanabavananthan outlined the purpose of the workshop. CTTU general secretary Mr.T.Mahasivam proposed vote of thanks. The chief guest was the FES resident representative Mr.Dietmar Kneitschel.